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Typhoon Haiyan 1 Year on: ‘I felt like it was the last day of my life’

My name is Manuel Beron. I am 48 years old, I live in Barangay Biasong in the Philippines and I have 7 children. I used to be a farmer but these days I sell charcoal. I was born with a disability, I accepted this, I never look down on myself because this is the reality. It is given by God.

“I felt like it was the last day of my life”

During Typhoon Yolanda (aka Typhoon Haiyan), I felt like it was the last day of my life because of the strong winds. Yolanda broke my house. During the typhoon, we did not come to any rehabilitation centre, we just stayed at the house. All my chickens died. My vegetable plants were gone. That just scared me most; not for only myself, but also my children, and my wife.

“Without these iron sheets, we would still have no roof”

Now, I am very happy because of the shelter assistance that I received. I am happy because for the first time, I can repair my house. My family is more secure. With these corrugated iron sheets, for the first time since Yolanda I have a roof over our heads. Without these iron sheets, we would still have no roof – only tarpaulins.

With this assistance from the Red Cross, I can now use my own money to buy food for my family. I do not need to spend that money to repair my home. Now I can see the Red Cross has the ability and the power to help Filipino people that need assistance.

Red Cross, committed to the long term response

A year later, thanks to generosity of donors from Ireland and around the world, the Red Cross has built well over 6,000 homes, distributed cash and roofing material to 13,500 households for home repairs and distributed cash to more than 29,000 households as part of the livelihood support programme.

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The Irish Red Cross is at the forefront of delivering aid to vulnerable people in Ireland and in countries around the world that have been struck by wars or natural disasters.
To be Ireland’s premier community service organization, through the implementation of the Red Cross Charter, preventing and alleviating human suffering, protecting life and health, ensuring respect for the human being by continually delivering a high quality humanitarian service to society at home and abroad. The Irish Red Cross provides care to the most vulnerable at home and abroad in peace, crisis and disaster.
The Irish Red Cross is currently undergoing changes to its corporate governance structure to bring it in line with modern practice. All change will be subject of the agreement of the Government of Ireland and the International Committee of the Red Cross.﻿
The Irish Red Cross is part of the world's largest humanitarian aid organisation The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement with apx. 97 million volunteers in 186 countries. Our Volunteers and staff work in communities all over Ireland and overseas.
If you would like more information about the Irish Red Cross please see http://www.redcross.ie